Autox Pad recommendation: Has anyone tried CarboTech AX6?
 

So I was wondering, what pad are you guys running for autox events? Didn't find much on these on the forum which is making me question them. I know aggressive pads are out the window due to ice mode and abs being not happy. I also know that many national level drivers simply use oem pad.. I am currently on StopTech Street Perf. pad .. They are not bad at all. However, they are coming up to almost 2.5 years of use so I know they might be done. So I was wondering if there's a pad that autox friendly? I hated stock akebono and felt they weren't adequate but again, in autox, you don't need to brake much. I stumbled upon these AX6 pads that made for autox. Any personal experience on them? I know some (non Z owners) told me about HP+ but I dunno.. they seem too grabby for autox (small 60s autox course may not generate enough heat to make them very effective).

So lets hear your recommendation for autox only pad? Thanks

I talked to the guys at Z1 and ended up getting a set of Hawk HP+, FedEx shows them out for delivery today.

I run carbotech pads on mine for autox. XP10's up front and XP8's in the rear. Never had a problem with ice mode on slicks or on street tires. The increase in braking performance over the stock pads was insane.

Oh yeah Gomer? I have a set of those for HPDE I was gonna use and thought they needed to heat up more but if that's the case maybe I'll give them a try. Used Yellow stuff most of last year and I liked them.

After I got them mid season last year, I had basically had to relearn proper braking so I wasn't scrubbing off more speed than I meant to.

I always used pads with as little bite as I could....of course you don't need to really ever slow down in a full tilt BSP car.

Mostly used the stoptech pads the last few years.

I run and like the HP+'s on my 350Z. (They dust like crazy though)

Hey 350, I was sort of under the impression that guys in AutoX liked really bitey pads. So surprised to hear that. If that is the case, have any of you guys tried Endless MX-72's in autoX? I would not consider them bitey at all, they are very linear and smooth(great for trail braking which I don't think you guys do much) but just wondering what autoX guys think about the MX72 in general.

I autox my first time with oem in a base Z. An occasional tap here and there is about it Well at least so far. Don't worry about your pads unless they are in need of replacement. Oem is fine.

I experienced "Ice Mode" at Nats last year running the HP+ on all four corners. Even rolling onto the brake pedal would induce it. I had some of my buddies drive the car too, because I thought it was me. Thanks to Mr. Stuart for helping me with this by sharing his experiences. On the street the are pads are fine but loud due to the lower temps under braking. Like the others said there's a lot of brake dust. I would probably just go with OEM pads.

I run OEM in the fronts now and still hit ice mode maybe once during an event now. We run on concrete and asphalt, the concrete seems to induce ice mode more.

Hope this helps.

Had the same issue BlackCherry, just took a few events for it to start happening. That's when I switched back to OEM for a bit which seemed to help. I like the yellow stuff pads. Seem less aggressive than the hp+ but moreso than OEM.

That's what I hear. I have them on my Z now and honestly, perfect possible pad. Quiet, decent initial bite, predictable - honestly no complain. Stoptech is still a very good contender. Only reason I was looking at something else is bc Z is pretty much full autox car now. maybe 30% daily driving (thanks to my truck). So I was thinking "maybe" there's a dedicated autox pad that's Z friendly. thank for the input btw. I randomly see your name pop up here and there. If we both attend same autox venue, feel free to come say :hello:


Very interesting Gomer.. I would think X10 or even 8 would be too much bite, but i guess it worked for you. I def. agree about stock pads being garbage. Seriously, I have a list of things Nissan need to make sure they have before they release the next Z (a mechanical diff is sitting at no. 1 haha :tup: ).



Yes it does help. Thank you. Luckily I run more on asphalt so thank God. I think I remember your story hence I mentioned ice mode in first post. I know someone at national had the issue. Does Direzza Z2 induces more ice mode vs. other less grippy tires or that doesn't matter?

Xp8 gets you ice mode in bumpy service. If you want aggressive pads, the project my club racer seems to be working well. I also have something else in the bag that I don't have a chance to test

AK, I run the same setup as Gomer for HPDE and LOVE the additional braking performance. I have not experienced any ice mode problems.

Did Evo School yesterday, first time out with the Hawk pads. Didn't get ice mode while on course but did get it a couple of times at the finish.


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ohhhh what are you trying? :hello: .. yeah.. I'm too nervous of grippy pad on Z. Especially two of my venue is old air strip. very gravely and bumpy.

Nice. Great to know. However, I maybe be retiring Z for HPDE :(. At 93K miles and 6 years later, I dunno if it can take track abuse. It's just dedicated Street autox car now.

ohhh nice! phase 1 or 2? There's phase 2 that I WANT to do this year. HP+ you tried? after finish laser, it's understanable bc we usually do abs braking.

Phase II and well worth it, do it!! Yes, HP+

Cobalt Friction.

I just put in the Project Mu Club Racer. It doesn't bite as hard as the XP10, but it seems to hold up to track abuse as I got fade around the same time as I did with the 10. Since they only have one track day on it, I probably won't be using the new Cobalt Friction anytime soon. I bought them on a special. It was like $300 for the set

How do you know you're in ice mode? What happens?

At yesterday's event we had a short finish and got ice mode almost every run. Still only getting it at the finish. After 2 points events with the Hawk pads I'm putting the OEM pads back on the front. I'm sure there is a learning curve with the new pads, but I'm struggling with scrubbing off too much speed and it's really costing me time. After my 4th place finish yesterday I'm going back to the OEM's up front for the SEDiv event next weekend.

Ice mode happens when the car thinks that all 4 wheels are going to lock up. It goes to about 20% braking and you have to let off the brakes and re-apply to get out of it.

I've only been to 2 AX's in my Z (I live next to VIR so just save up for that). But both times I've run my "track" PFC 08s all around. They seem to do great at AX, although I'll admit I'm probably not a good enough driver to really push their limits. Since they are an endurance racing pad I'm not sure if they get enough heat in them in short runs.

Went back and looked at the videos and I was wrong about ice mode. I did get it a couple of time on course, each time taking out a cone. What I was thinking was driving too hard into a feature and a bad push was really ice mode.

It was killing me that in the T&T's a month ago I was turning some really fast times and then in the first 2 points event I struggled to 4th place finishes. I guess I'll find out if my theory is correct this weekend at SEDiv in Kodak, TN.

Interesting to hear that more aggressive pads are liked on the 370Z for autox. One of my theories (completely from the left-field region of my strange mind) is that aggressive pads might not always play nicely with street ABS systems. Stopping distances may increase, and/or ice mode may become more common. In my experience, stock RX-8 brake pads work better than one aftermarket pad tried (I wish I remembered which one) in the autocross setting. Also, both of my 300ZX NAs on stock pads stopped in shorter distances than my 350Z does on StopTech pads -- and the Z32s were on narrower tires.

It's something I'd really like to learn more about, but I don't know where to find authoritative information on the subject.